Leonard Peltier All-Day Parole Vigil, San Francisco

TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE TO INDIAN COUNTRY

By: Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney






As a Cherokee Native American Activist and a former member of the Richmond California Violence Prevention Movement, I have seen close to 515 homicides in the City of Richmond from 2001 to the present.

The declaration of a 'war on violence' by the Richmond city government was not the panacea, instead it failed miserably.

I have often stated in town hall meetings and on television, the best way to win the 'war on violence' in Richmond is to 'TEACH THE VALUES OF PEACE'.

In the killing fields of Richmond, most of the victims of homicides are youth or young adults. Teaching the values of peace begins with our youth and young adults. From a Native perspective, winning the war on violence begins in the home with a strong, spiritual belief and value system.

We believe that Creator made all generations, past, present and those of the future, holy people. This is what our Elders teach us from the time we are born.

Our families and Elders teach our young people that they must tear away the images and stereotypes that mainstream society has placed upon them as Native peoples.

Violence and killing is not traditional in Native culture, it is a learned behavior from mainstream society.

We teach our youths not to attack, punish or beat themselves up for crimes that they have never committed in regards to racism. Our Elders and families teach our young people to have good self-esteem, self-worth and self-value, for as the original holy people this was Creators plan.

Native people know that it is both family and community responsibility to teach the values of peace to our young people.

We teach our young people honesty and accountability concerning violence. It begins with accepting responsibility for self and acknowledging any past use of violence.

Admitting any wrongdoing, communicating openly and truthfully to renounce the use of violence in the future places our youth on the right path. We place a heavy emphasis that all life is sacred.

The final lesson in teaching the values of peace is quite simple. It is helping young people understand their relationship to others and all things in Creation.

Be responsible for your role, act with compassion and respect, and remember ALL LIFE IS SACRED. Native culture is prevention!

Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney

http://kpfa.org/archive/id/52770
KPFA Special Broadcast ~ July 28th - 5 p.m. on Leonard Peltier Hearing; Interview with his attorney ..Speeches by UNA & AIM Leaders ~ great!~

The slave holder pens of the Roman Empire were an integral part of the war machine of Rome. They were meant to break the solidarty of the free living peoples lifestyle and enforce the enslaved lifestyle. That also included for the first time to the British Tribes, the breaking of the matriarchy (equal electing of woman) by alienating them from each other by keeping them separated in distant slave holding pens. The evolution of these institutions has become the modern day prisons. They still retain the war machine characteristics of the Imperial rulers, and the gender discrimination that dives and rules the species in an alienated position.

With the new millenium under way one would think they would quit suppression and in the spirit of liberation end Prisons and put people democracy in place allowing the organic agricultural communes to come into being replete with family accomodation and children. The whole society would flourish well-beingness from such a return to sanity.